Global Scans · Design · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: Design thinking will increasingly play a key role in improving systems and customer experiences. Companies will re-learn their approach to innovation and embrace human-centred design principles. Designers will begin to apply knowledge of human interaction, specifically in the area of how we earn trust and respect, to AI systems.

• [New] Qualcomm High Bandwidth Compute (HBC) bonds compute with accelerated memory bandwidth in a 3D-stacked silicon solution, making it a compute architecture rather than a memory part, and HBC Gen 1, paired with the AI250, is expected to reach commercial sampling in mid-2027. AIMultiple
• [New] Allies will consider partnerships that prioritise co-design, co-development, co-production and co-sustainment and sharing of key technologies and intellectual property in a way that reinforces NATO while advancing national sovereignty. Official texts and resources | NATO
• [New] The year 2026 will see a stronger integration of architecture and art in lighting design. Lena Lighting
• [New] In 2026, personalization will become one of the dominant directions in architectural lighting design. Lena Lighting
• [New] A major 11 km section of the A16 motorway in Rotterdam achieved virtual commissioning prior to construction through a digital twin built on BIM and 3D design data, highlighting the potential for improved planning, validation and risk reduction. Default
• [New] China's completion of an integrated and resilient PNT architecture that includes signals from space, eLoran and fiber ensuring it can withstand GNSS disruption. Inside GNSS - Global Navigation Satellite Systems Engin
• [New] Fast-Growing Segment: Biophilic design is expected to expand at 7.8% CAGR through 2033, propelled by corporate ESG mandates, occupant wellness standards, and government green building incentives codifying biophilic specifications into commercial procurement frameworks. Persistence Market Research
• [New] Parent company Tata is building a £4 billion (US$ 5.32-billion) factory in Somerset, UK, to manufacture batteries so expect cells with the latest flat-pack design to form the platform floor. New Atlas
• [New] Agentic AI increases architecture risk, with Forrester predicting three out of four internal builds will fail because of multi-model systems, advanced data architectures, and specialized expertise. AmplifAI
• [New] Governments across Asia-Pacific, Europe, and North America are expanding support for deep retrofits of existing buildings, creating opportunities for equipment suppliers, engineering firms, construction contractors, and energy service providers. Research Nester
• [New] As users become more sophisticated about how their data is used, and as regulatory frameworks continue to evolve globally, ethical design will become a genuine competitive differentiator. Web Development & Technology Resources
• [New] If the current trajectory holds, the next five years will see UI/UX design become even more deeply embedded in product strategy, business operations, and competitive positioning. Web Development & Technology Resources
• [New] The ethical fashion market's average annual growth rate is 8.3%, projected to accelerate to 9.7% a year by 2030. Ringly.io
• [New] New SoC methodologies, such as the use of digital twins and other modelling and simulation (M&S) tools, have been deployed to better anticipate challenges and simulate possible outcomes so that planners can sharpen planning and design interventions. Centre for Liveable Cities Knowledge Hub
• [New] Smart Manufacturing Week 2026 will mark the official launch of Factory of the Future, a new flagship immersive demonstrator designed to show what the next generation of connected, intelligent and secure manufacturing can look like. Smart Manufacturing & Engineering Week 2026
• [New] The MDJV (Multiplex Degr? mont Joint Venture) Alliance has produced a design that is unmatched and will result in the most sophisticated seawater desalination plant in the world, the Perth Seawater Desalination Plant. Water Finance & Management
• [New] EU regulators have accused Meta, the company behind Facebook and Instagram, of failing to tackle the risks of its addictive design on the physical and mental health of users. The Guardian
• [New] Meta must change Facebook's and Instagram's addictive design or face a heavy fine, the EU has warned. BBC News
• [New] Lockheed Martin designs each GPS III and IIIF satellite with a modular architecture, which allows us to easily integrate new technologies and capabilities to address emerging threats and enhance resilience. Lockheed Martin
• [New] The NSF FAST Engine in Oregon, led by Oregon State University, will use artificial intelligence to accelerate semiconductor design, improve manufacturing processes and shorten product development cycles. EdTech Innovation Hub
• [New] The NSF NEO-SMART Engine, led by Case Western Reserve University with more than 70 regional partners, will apply AI and machine learning to materials design and manufacturing across polymers, chemicals, coatings and metals. EdTech Innovation Hub
• [New] As US drone companies move beyond adapting foreign platforms and begin designing their own aircraft, they will need motors and controllers engineered to their specifications with faster prototyping. AgFunderNews
• [New] Under the EU's revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, member states must renovate the worst-performing 16% of non-residential buildings by 2030, rising to 26% by 2033. Last Week in ConTech

Last updated: 03 August 2026